Back in 1985, when I was working at WVUD-FM in Dayton (now WLQT), CBS Radio affiliates were given early access, via network satellite, to “We Are The World” before records (yes records) got mailed to stations. WVUD as a CBS affiliate could download it and as production manager, that’s what I did, running the cart down to the on-air studio so Pat Haverland, our midday guy, could be first to air it in the market; he did and we were.

So the song has always had a special place within me…and (for different reasons) just about everybody else.

I will grant you that 25 years ago and then again this year, the professional singers who participated in the recordings had the best of intentions and indeed turned in fine performances.

But when I saw George Whittam’s facebook posting of this very unique video of a less famous rendition, it made me think that maybe this was how it was supposed to be performed in the first place. Social media done extremely well? What do you think?

Tags: commentary, radio, social media, youtube by peter o'connell voiceover
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Yes, I had a blog before my web designers had a blog.

They helped me design it, upload it and maintain it. They thought it was really swell.

And then they sat for about a hundred years on the blogosphere sidelines. Oy! Well, they were busy doing a ton of highly successful web projects for big name companies in the meantime, so I kinda understand the delay.

But only kinda.

You can lead web geeks to water but you cannot make them drink the blog kool-aid…initially. But now that they have tasted it, they may become addicted and we will all be better for it.

Craig Chapman and his team at Rare Earth Interactive have created their own blog and it will be tremendous. There are oodles of factoids on web design, search engine optimization, content, flash and loads of other helpful stuff that they will likely offer on their blog. It will be good stuff.

They’ve been a great partner for me and I hope you’ll take time to enjoy their ride as well.

Tags: blogs, commentary, social media, technology by peter o'connell voiceover
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This one gave me a chuckle.

The Buffalo Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives hosted their yearly awards gala and they asked if I would do the live announce again. I said sure, we worked out a trade deal and all was good. I did warn them that sometimes travel comes up and then I might have to pass; they were cool with that.

Travel came up and off I was to be on a plane instead of behind the mic for them. I said the only option I had for them was that I could pre-record it the show for them into individual sound files and they audio-visual technician would play them back for the proper intros. They loved that idea, I recorded it, they loved how it sounded, it was done well in advance and sent over to the av company to get them comfortable with pacing and technical stuff, etc.

So the night of the show comes and goes and the next day I email to see how it went. Here’s the answer I got:

Well….funny you should ask. Hi Peter – the rehearsals went really well but we did have a glitch during the actual intros. I sat with the av guy to make sure he knew when to cue the next person’s intro. He would hit the button with your recording and then play music in between. However, he hit the button too quick after announcing the Key Bank winner and we heard “from Business First” too soon so he stopped it right away. Unfortunately, by stopping it the way he did, it was miscued and then it went back to the very beginning of the recording again. Luckily he wrote down the exact time of each recording so it was a matter of getting back to the right time on the recording but he kept missing it so we had about 2 full minutes of waiting and wondering what was up. My face was on fire J

Your voice was loud and clear and it sounded like you were right there so that was very cool. I think considering what the av guys had to do, they did an awesome job. And other than that, the night was fabulous. We are getting rave reviews.

Yikes.

So tonight on Facebook, I see my friend Nancy Knight posted something so I threw a kudo towards her as she was one of the award winners —who happened to be the NEXT intro when the AV had the hand-eye coordination melt down on his computer mouse. Nancy wrote:

Peter — thanks for the kind words — yeah, the audio left me and my prom date stuck at the top of the stairs for QUITE some time… before I figured it was all automated, I thought you were mad at me or something…

Oy! Usually I only annoy people when I am present but thanks to one tech, I annoyed hundreds of people while in Texas. Sorry Nancy.

Of course, I never make mistakes. Like the time as a PA announcer I had a stadium full of people stand for the national anthem during a college football game…only it was time for the band to play the school song. Yeah….

Tags: announcers, commentary, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter o'connell voiceover
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I’ve tabulated the votes on the unofficial audition for the announcer job for World News with Diane Sawyer.

My oh my was there a lot of politicking going on in this year’s faux-dition vote. This “crown” is more important to folks than I realized.

Congratulations to Ralph and all the nominees for your efforts and obvious talent.

Very special thanks to EVERYONE who participated. I hope all 96 of you enjoyed it.

1 Ralph Hass
2 Jack Friday
3 Rich Brennan
4 Tammy McDaniel
5 (T) John Weeks
5 (T) Dan Harder
7 Jay Douglas
8 DC Goode
9 Lee Gordon
10 Philip Ives
11 Brian Haymond

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Tags: commentary, fauxdition, unofficial audition by peter o'connell voiceover
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Dear Vancouver,

Good luck tonight as you kick off your Olympic games.

You’ll do great. Wish I could be there with you.

Best always,
- Peter

Tags: commentary, olympics by peter o'connell voiceover
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Firefighters battle flames from the wreckage of Continental Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009 where 50 people died

On Friday, February 12, 2010, many people might wear red to signify St. Valentine’s Day on Sunday. But I’d like to ask you to wear red on Friday for another reason.

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the crash of Continental flight 3407 from Newark to Buffalo where preventable pilot error caused the death of 50 people. The families affected by the crash (and there are many) will walk Friday from the site of the crash to Buffalo Niagara International Airport in memory of those they lost.

Additionally, the families have asked that people everywhere (not just in Western New York) wear red on Friday to remember those that died and those whose lives were changed forever.

Flying is not safer today than it was one year ago. It seems no one is willing to truly address the problem.

Maybe a little symbolism will help get their attention.

Tags: buffalo, commentary by peter o'connell voiceover
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